GM and Chrysler dealerships closing, restructuring and confidence

It has been an extremely busy time for GM and Chrysler of late with all of the news of dealership closures. We have previously reported news on questions and answers to do with the closing of dealerships which you can read more about here Read more

CNN features hologram interviews: technology from Star trek

Yesterday was a big day for not only the people of America, but also for those at CNN. So not only has America elected their first black President, but CNN have now featured hologram interviews. Many are saying that it is like something from Star Wars, but talking to someone directly via a hologram was something from Star Trek Deep Space Nine, which was installed on the Defiant, man I’m a geek. Read more

Barack Obama Elected 44th President of the United States

After following the 2008 elections for the last day we could see things moving almost right away to one mans victory, it was clear from the start and almost certain just 4 hours ago that Barack Obama would become the first U.S. black President Read more

Florida and California Election Results: If Obama then it’s over

It’s almost time to name a democratic victory, although this is not 100 percent yet, Barack Obama is likely to win Florida and California after looking at the election results and 2008 electoral map.

While Florida is very close it still looks like 51 percent to Barack Obama and this is likely to increase more to Obama after looking at some of the precincts left Read more

Early Voting Exit Polls 2008 and Presidential Election Results

For those looking to get details on the early voting exit polls in 2008 and the U.S. Presidential election results, then you have come to the right place.

What are Exit polls? These are surveys that are taken when a voter leaves their voting place; it’s taken from just a small percentage of voters and as such can only be taken lightly Read more

2008 election updates from Twitter users worldwide

We have all heard of Twitter, this is the place to go to get all the latest news from a number of websites from just one place. Well today is the day when you should consider visiting Twitter, as they have updates throughout the day for the 2008 election. Read more

Live Polling Problems: interactive state-by-state breakdown

Today is the 2008 US Elections, and no matter how much time the U.S. has had to prepare for the big day, there will always be voting problems. There is some of the best technology and software being used when it comes to voting, but things always have a tendency to go wrong. Read more

World’s First iPod touch and iPhone Compatible Stylus

Ten One Design, LLC, a New York-based design firm specializing in solutions for the mobile lifestyle, announces that its Pogo Stylus – the world’s first stylus compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch – is fully compatible with the newest iPod touch and iPhone models from Apple in terms of functionality and aesthetic appeal Read more

Microsoft Surface at Sheraton Hotels & Resorts: Location List

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Microsoft Corp. today introduced an entirely new hotel guest experience with its debut of Microsoft Surface, Microsoft’s first commercially available surface computer. Featuring easy-to-use technology and a natural way of accessing information, Surface units will be placed in the lobbies of select Sheraton hotels in Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. Microsoft Surface breaks down the traditional barriers between people and technology, providing simple and instant access to information and entertainment. Sheraton will be the first hotel to offer Microsoft Surface, creating a new Sheraton brand experience that will bring interaction, connectivity and a social setting to the lobby, providing guests with an entirely new way to explore local tourist highlights and enhance their hotel stay.

Microsoft Surface is a 30-inch display in a tablelike form factor that several guests can use simultaneously. The intuitive user interface works without a traditional mouse or keyboard, allowing people to interact with content and information in a more natural and familiar way, by using their hands and gestures. Sheraton will unveil Surface today at five hotels: Sheraton Boston Hotel, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, Sheraton Gateway San Francisco Airport Hotel and Sheraton Seattle Hotel.

With each unit, Sheraton is offering a customized version of the Microsoft Surface developed suite of applications to provide entertainment and information about local attractions. Surface, and these unique applications, are designed to serve the needs of the brand’s core guests who are social individuals seeking to share the travel experience with one another. The placement of the Surface units in Sheraton lobbies enables guests to leverage and experience the offerings in a social way. Three highlighted applications are the following:

CityTips®. At the guests’ fingertips are the Surface 360-degree satellite maps and tools to search for local restaurants and bars, entertainment, recreation, shopping, transportation and services, such as banks and pharmacies. Guests can discover all a city has to offer by simply moving their hands across Surface.

Sounds of Sheraton. Microsoft Surface also serves as a lobby-based digital jukebox, enabling guests to create personal music playlists by choosing selections from Sheraton’s exclusive offering of Sony BMG artists, including John Legend, Kenny Chesney and Lauryn Hill.

Sheraton Snapshots. Guests can explore Sheraton hotels and resorts throughout the world by simply browsing the Surface photo library of Sheraton resorts and hotel properties to help them plan for future business or leisure travel.

“Sheraton is redefining the hospitality experience by offering our guests technology that will allow them to interact with each other and our hotel in a revolutionary way,” said Hoyt H. Harper II, senior vice president for Sheraton. “We are proud to partner with Microsoft to offer the groundbreaking Microsoft Surface product, which will enable our guests to stay informed, connected and entertained while traveling.”

“We’re excited to be working with Sheraton in its efforts to feature innovation and redefine the guest experience in its hotel properties,” said Pete Thompson, general manager, Microsoft Surface. “Surface takes a common activity, such as looking up information about a local city, and transforms it into an intuitive and social way for hotel guests to plan their visit. We believe this is just the beginning of how Surface will completely change the hotel guest experience.”

Sheraton Locations Featuring Microsoft Surface

• Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers – 811 7th Ave. 53rd St., New York
• Sheraton Boston Hotel – 39 Dalton St., Boston
• Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers – 301 East North Water St., Chicago
• Sheraton Seattle Hotel – 1400 6th Ave., Seattle
• Sheraton Gateway San Francisco Airport Hotel – 600 Airport Blvd., Burlingame

Source - Press release

Other Microsoft Surface News

Chrysler Jeep Renegade Concept looks like Halo 3 Chief Spartans Vehicle, do you like it?

Chrysler has a fair few concept cars and this one is apparently the third release in the way of final sketches, below we have a few images for you to look at. Before I go into the car itself, does anyone think that the Jeep Renegade Concept looks like Chief Spartans car from Halo 3 game?

This vehicle was shown off at the Detroit Auto Show in January, now you are wondering why the heck we are publishing about it now, well the reason we are is because many people may have missed this little beauty. The Jeep Renegade Concept has been designed to be rugged, you know something that can take a beating or two, it is a B-segment-sized two-seat eco-friendly vehicle that is capable of dune surfing and off roading. Those who love the world to be green will love the fact it uses minimal materials and has a hybrid drive train, it is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack which has a 40-mile range, and it can be recharged by a small onboard BLUETEC diesel engine. The combined mileage of the hybrid system is said to be 110 mpg.

Check out the Jeep Renegade Concept pictures below, and then below these you can see the full press release.

Halo 3 Vehicle

PRESS RELEASE:
Jeep® Renegade Concept
BLUETEC diesel Range Extended Electric Vehicle in fun, open-air, sustainable design package

A B-segment Jeep® concept vehicle, the Renegade is a sporty, “minimized” two-seater ideally suited for the all-weather fun of dune-surfing or rock-crawling.

“With an electric motor powering each axle, the Jeep Renegade concept is designed for a ‘hang on and have fun experience,’” said Tony Shamenkov, Jeep Renegade concept principal exterior designer.

Constructed of environmentally responsible materials, sustainability is a key theme of the Jeep Renegade concept.

Renegade is targeted at customers in the “Stylish Green” segment of the marketplace – those who are extremely environmentally oriented, appreciate high-tech and innovation, and enjoy performance combined with style in keeping with their “green” attitude.

Jeep Renegade Concept Technology
The advanced propulsion system in the Jeep Renegade concept starts with a 40-mile lithium-ion battery pack. A range extender – in Renegade’s case, a small-displacement (1.5-liter, 3-cylinder) BLUETEC diesel engine – allows for journeys beyond 40 miles. In fact, the Jeep Renegade concept boasts a 400-mile range.

Renegade’s BLUETEC diesel engine generates an additional 115 horsepower when needed, while greatly reducing exhaust emissions when compared to standard gasoline engines. Renegade is capable of achieving an equivalent petroleum fuel economy of 110 miles per gallon, which is four-to-five times greater than an equivalent gasoline-only vehicle.

The all-new Jeep Renegade concept’s lightweight aluminum architecture and regen-braking system help to improve overall efficiency, while dual electric 200 kilowatt (268 horsepower) motors propel a very capable 4×4 system – complete with low range and locking differentials — worthy of carrying the Jeep name.

Jeep Renegade Concept Exterior
The Jeep Renegade concept’s “one-with-nature” personality is emphasized by its large, flaring wheel openings, oversized wheels and tires, and cut-down speedster windshield — all of which combine to deliver on the Renegade’s promise of cross-country fun and agility.

Among the unique exterior details are “deconstructed” rubber-clad headlamps and taillamps, as well as just-for-fun elongated triangular openings in each of the two sculpted doors.

While the Renegade features a roll bar, it has no top. Instead, the cargo deck just behind the cockpit can be fitted with a variety of “lids.” Options include a plain lid, or lids configured to accommodate the gear of a particular outdoor day-trip activity, such as mountain biking or kayaking. Or it can come “as built” — with formations designed to accommodate two matching water scooters with open storage underneath. Fluid-fill caps, a plug-in port and a first-aid kit are also included.

Jeep Renegade Concept Interior
Sustainability – a ratio between the energy needed to build and ship the vehicle as compared with the impact these processes have on the environment – is a key focus of the Jeep Renegade concept’s interior design.

Materials used in constructing the Jeep Renegade concept were deliberately selected to be environmentally responsible, both in manufacture and end-of-vehicle-life recyclability.

Innovative construction includes one-piece molded soy-based foam seats and doors, a one-piece co-molded instrument panel with a urethane skin, a co-molded aluminum/silicone steering wheel, a one-piece molded chassis created without using environmentally-harmful resins, and a one-piece molded interior compartment “tub.” This environmental care in designing the Renegade’s interior is aligned with Jeep’s “harmony with nature” philosophy.

“The Jeep Renegade concept’s interior - actually the entire vehicle - is designed to minimize the number of parts necessary for assembly and function,” said Scott Anderson, principal interior designer of the Renegade concept. “We designed the Renegade with an eye toward simplification of systems, both in parts and processes.”

The HVAC system, for example, is not coolant-based, while the color, grain and gloss of the interior parts are molded in one piece. Even the no-gloss exterior color of the Renegade’s lightweight composite body is molded in to avoid the use of solvents present in automotive paints.

The dual-cockpit instrument panel is symmetrically balanced for easy “plug and play” left-hand drive and right-hand drive applications. There is no conventional wiring. Instead, the instrument panel features wireless electronics in sealed, self-contained units, removable by the customer. The panel is built about an exposed cross-car beam containing an integrated power strip, and on the passenger side, yaw, pitch and roll indicators (also built into the fluid-fill gauges). The instrument panel itself is hollow, allowing ample open storage below the beam. Separately-configured impact-absorbing vinyl-wrapped knee-blockers “float” beneath the cross-car beam.

The thin multi-plane acrylic instrument cluster mounts to the steering column, while the similar but separate center control screen mounts on a swivel base — providing easy access to both occupants.

Located at the intersection of the steering wheel’s T-shaped spokes, the circular LED screen rotates, allowing the driver to select the drive mode, while a flattened rim provides roomier thigh clearance. A driver air bag is concealed beneath the screen. Red or green translucent shift buttons allow Park, Reverse or Drive selections.

The Jeep Renegade concept’s sporty doors incorporate unique canvas-pull remote “handles,” while the rush of the moving landscape visible through the door’s elongated openings enhance the feeling of carefree, open-air mobility.

The Renegade’s contoured, figure-form seats — covered in scuba-like waterproof materials that are both soft-touch and flexible — feature in-seat belts and unusual, hollow, lightweight upside-down “U-shaped” headrests. The seats feature a urethane skin with soy-based foam co-molded with a composite substructure. The integral seatbelts, along with slender accent strips on the seats and instrument panel, repeat the Palm Metallic exterior color.

A “thermal unit” in the center console plugs into the electrical battery pack, permitting food to be either heated or cooled.

“Inspired by the simplicity and functionality of scuba diving gear, we wanted the interior of the Jeep Renegade concept to be weather-tight and durable,” Anderson said.

The Renegade’s wireless interior is designed to be hosed down. It features a drain in the floor, while the formations built into the floor mat are designed to channel water to the opening. Hollow-section billet-formed pedals float above the tub floor.

Fun, functional and fabricated from recyclable materials, the Jeep Renegade concept offers agile, capable performance without sacrificing the environment its drivers seek to explore. Keeping with Jeep owners’ desire to use their vehicles as an extension of their active lives, the Jeep Renegade concept promotes enjoyment of the good things of the earth while taking care of its future.

Jeep Renegade Concept Vehicle Specifications

Vehicle Type Range-extended Electric Vehicle (40-mile all-electric range with diesel range extender)

Two-passenger, open-air

Weight and Dimensions
Weight/GVWR 3150 lbs./3600 lbs.
Length 153.0 inches/3885mm
Width at H-point 62.9 inches/1598mm
Height 56.3 inches/1431mm
Wheelbase 101.6 inches/2580mm
Front overhang 25.0 inches/634mm
Rear overhang 26.4 inhces/671mm
Track front/rear 62.2 inches/1580mm
Approach angle 44.0 degrees
Departure angle 52.0 degrees
Breakover angle 32.0 degrees
Turn circle 35 feet/10.7m
Maximum width 71.4 inches/1814mm

Powertrain and Suspension
Layout Four wheel drive with low range and locking differentials

Motor Dual electric
Power: 200 kW (268 hp) x 2
Regenerative braking

Battery 16 kWh Li-ion battery pack

Range extender 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder diesel

Fuel volume 10 gallons

Suspension Front – SLA
Rear – Multi-link

Wheels and Tires
Tire size front/rear 235/65R20×7.5 inches 32.1 inches/814mm
Tire manufacturer BF Goodrich

Color Scheme
Exterior Palm Metallic
Interior Black

Key Performance Attributes
0-60 mph 8.5 seconds
Standing ¼ mile 13.6 seconds
Top speed 90 mph
All-electric range 40 miles
Total range 400 miles
Fuel economy 110 mpg (combined, est.)

Source

Philips launches WACS7500 wireless audio centre for the home

This Philips WACS7500 Audio centre has a main unit with 80GB hard disk and a wireless station you can place in another room.

With this centre you can have up to five stations for spreading your music around and each are able to play different selections at the same time and can connect to your PC for music stored there.

Other features include internet radio, connection to an iPod, easy CD ripping and everything else you would expect of a decent home audio system.

source

Barack Obama Most Popular Searched Policitian

There seems to be a lot more people interest in what is happening in the US Elections, than what is actually happening in the UK. Hitwise has said that Barack Obama is the most searched for Read more

Three More Primaries for Barak Obama

Barak Obama has taken the lead in the elections and Hillary Clinton is left trailing behind after he won three more primaries.

The final figures have not been made official Read more

Democratic Delegate Count: Barack Obama wins 910-882 or Hillary Clinton 885-799

The Democratic delegate count is confusing to say the least, while Barack Obama’s campaign are saying he won 910-882 in the Super Tuesday Elections, we are also hearing Hillary Clinton won 885-799 Read more

Barack Obama Sings Speech With Black Eyed Peas

Hillary Clinton may have got the support of Madonna, Jack Nicholson and Steven Spielberg but in a new video featuring some of the stars of the entertainment and sporting industries backing her Democratic rival has become a sensation on YouTube.

Black Eyed Peas, William, has contacted some famous friends and produced a song track for one of US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s speeches. Read more

Super Tuesday Primary and Caucuses Results Live

Today could change the 2008 presidential elections forever, as today is Super Tuesday where many states vote all in one day.

The chances are that Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John McCain will come out tops, but as I have said before…if Ron Paul gets enough votes today it could change the shape of things to come Read more

Ron Paul in Florida Primary Elections: the money man

John McCain might of won with 693,425 votes and 36% of the total, but what does it mean for Ron Paul in the Florida Primary Elections, as the money man only got 62,060 votes and 3% of total.

Ron Paul raised around $6.3 million in a single day Read more

Last 30 News & Products: 01-30-2008

Ron Paul: excluded from the Fox New Hampshire debate

Well further to Daniels post How will US Rep Ron Paul do in New Hampshire debate? the virdict is: not well at all as he was excluded along with the representative Duncan Hunter of California (well thats the Fox News Sunday Debate and not the Saturday one) Read more

iGoogle Gadget for Ron Paul and Elections

Are you the person who really doesn’t want to miss out on the elections, well now you don’t have to, Google has created a page that will help you keep tags on super Ron Paul and the other candidates Read more

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